A Strange Bird
by Michael Dransfield

it is a strange bird
this world

whose habit is
to fight itself

whose left wing
and right wing

tear themselves
bitterly apart

both on the side
of justice and violence

and whose great beak
gobbles the poor

Michael Dransfield

Analysis:

A Strange Bird is a series of couplets that describes the issues in politics in certain countries. This particular extended metaphor is about Australian politics, I think this because Michael Dransfield is an Australian poet and the terms left and right wing are used in politics when talking about the different parties. The left wing is often the party that support social change and making the world a better and more advanced place, whereas the right wing is known to be the group supporting keeping more traditional methods and staying the same. This section,
‘both on the side
of justice and violence’
is used to clearly explain that it is about politics and not ruthless killing like war.
 The couplet,
‘tear themselves
bitterly apart’,
explains their actions in parliament when they are bickering and trying to destroy the other party’s campaign. The last couplet,
‘and whose great beak
gobbles the poor’
is used to describe how the government of Australia is widening the gap between the rich and the poor in Australia. I think that the tone the poet made in this poem is depressing and
somewhat confusing. I think that this poem is a very accurate portrayal of how idiotic and puzzling the Australian government is.